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Street warming in bullpen as NL's rally falls short

Padres closer relishes All-Star experience despite again not making appearance

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Street, Ross introduced at ASG 0:13

7/15/14: Padres' All-Stars Huston Street and Tyson Ross are introduced prior to the 2014 All-Star Game at Target Field in Minnesota

By Barry M. Bloom
/
MLB.com |

MINNEAPOLIS -- For the second time in three years, Huston Street was the Padres' representative on the National League All-Star team, and for the second time, Street didn't get in the game.

He was told he'd be used in the bottom of the ninth had the NL come back from a 5-3 deficit in the top of the inning, and he began to warm up in the bullpen. When Twins closer Glen Perkins retired the side in order to preserve the American League win, Street simply continued to get in his regular work.

"I didn't get in," he said. "It would have been fun if we had come back, but otherwise it was a good experience all the way around. They never told me I was going to close. They told all of us a mixture of the same thing, which was they were going to play matchups between lefties and righties. Try and get everybody in there and see how it went.

"As the game shaped out, I just didn't get in there. I'm not going to complain about it. I'm just going to have to make another one. Hopefully the third time is the charm."

The game marked another strange run for the Padres, who haven't had a player appear in an All-Star Game since Heath Bell faced the last batter of the top of the eighth inning in the 2011 game at Chase Field, a 5-1 NL win. Bell got Jhonny Peralta to pop out.

"It's a conspiracy, maybe," Street said with a laugh. "Nah, we just need to get more people to tune in. Get those television numbers up."

Still, Street said a good time was had by all. He spent his time in the bullpen interacting with his fellow NL pitchers.

"You just try to meet guys, talk to guys and to make friends," he said. "It's always fun to meet the players you play against. You don't get to know them unless you exchange a wave or a mutual, 'Hey, I've seen you pitch before.' But to actually get to know a person, that's what matters. That's what means something.

"You always want to come back here. As many times as they'll let you come to the All-Star Game, you'll come. Not getting to pitch is just one small part of the whole experience. I had a blast. I didn't enjoy losing. I didn't want to lose. Now, the National League doesn't have home-field advantage in the World Series. We were just talking about that. It's always more fun to win."